First China to UK train bound with goods

For most online sellers, sourcing products from China has typically meant transporting goods by air or sea. Now a new alternative has appeared to follow the steps of an ancient path.

Dubbed the new ‘silk route’, freight trains will travel from China through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, Belguim and France before crossing under the English Channel to arrive in the UK.

So what does it mean for you

Though it is not as quick as air shipments (though cheaper), the new train journey takes only 18 days to complete meaning it is quicker than shipping via the sea.

This could give you a great new method of importing goods from abroad or at least another option for those mid-season rushes where you need the goods soon but rather not take the hit by the cost of air freight.